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Journalists Accidentally Confuse A 63-Year-Old Teacher With A Fashion Icon And It Ends Up Changing Her Life

When Fordham University professor Lyn Slater went to meet a friend for lunch outside the Lincoln Center during New York Fashion Week, she had no idea her life was about to be forever changed. Foreign journalists suddenly surrounded her, mistaking her for a fashion icon and attracting a crowd of spectators. It was a defining moment that turned Lyn into an Accidental Icon – and made her blog of the same name shoot to the skies.

At 63 years old, Lyn Slater is not exactly a typical haute couture model, but that’s part of her appeal. She decries age-based discrimination in both the fashion industry and in everyday life, including the tired notion of ‘dressing for one’s age.’ “I think, if you are comfortable in what you’re wearing, no matter how old you are and you’re owning it, you’re going to look completely fine,” Slater told Refinery29 in a 2016 interview. She is currently signed to Elite London, the world’s leading modeling company, and has worked with brands such as Mango and Uniqlo.

Lyn is admirable not only for her unstoppable attitude, but for her edgy and decidedly hip style, and her Instagram page now boasts over 132 thousand followers. A happy accident, indeed!

What do you think ?

Am thinking the same :). Thumbs up for the stance against ageism, but this glorification of the transition from "ordinary" UNIVERSITY professor to model doesn't sit well with me - and I'm surprised it does with BP :(

I understand that what I'm going to say is not the point of this article, neither of her words. I also agree that one should be able to wear whatever s/he wants too. However, I still do see her as "dresses for her age". How so? Because this kind of elegance with a pinch of extravagance is universal for every adult woman who can afford to dress up.

age appropriate is what shes speaking against - why has her age got anything to do with what she wears - you've just turned her message around from wear what you like to make sure you dress for your age

I totally agree that whatever makes you look elegant and styling is age-appropriate. But the phrase "dress for your age" conjures up a stereotype. Two years ago, at 69, I went to oening night at live theater and a mid-sized city. One of the ushers said, "Wow! You look fabulous! Are you somebody special?" To which I replied, "Yes. Aren't we all?"

A big factor in the question of "dressing for your age" is that teens and 20-somethings can wear trendy clothing without other people jumping to conclusions based on their current outfit. If a 25-year-old wears artfully ripped jeans, she has no reason to worry that she'll be perceived as ratty, poor, and unfashionable. If she wears loose, hippie-style dresses, she doesn't have to worry that anyone who sees her will assume she's a vegan artist who ONLY wears clothes like that. Older women don't have that luxury, so they usually just choose a pigeon-hole they're comfortable with. The odds are of your average 60+ woman feeling comfortable wearing that floor-length, billowy pink floral dress AND wearing fitted black leather jackets/tops are incredibly slim. But both are fashionable, and there's no reason for them to be mutually exclusive.

I'm not certain the affording it bit is really fitting though; I'm impressed by her courage, but many of those clothes could be found in thrift stores. I have a lovely blouse of the same style of that one with long flowing sleeves. I found it for less than 2 bucks, and have only worn it once. I love it, with it's full on flowery flow I felt to, ah, conspicuous. Seeing her however, is about to change my mind.

similarly as Brandon addressed I didnt realize that somebody can make $7043 in fourteen days on the
PC . look at the post right here..........­/ w­­­­­w­­­­­w­­­­­.99homejobs­ . ­­­­­c ­­­­­o ­­­­­m­­­­­ᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵ

Am thinking the same :). Thumbs up for the stance against ageism, but this glorification of the transition from "ordinary" UNIVERSITY professor to model doesn't sit well with me - and I'm surprised it does with BP :(

I understand that what I'm going to say is not the point of this article, neither of her words. I also agree that one should be able to wear whatever s/he wants too. However, I still do see her as "dresses for her age". How so? Because this kind of elegance with a pinch of extravagance is universal for every adult woman who can afford to dress up.

age appropriate is what shes speaking against - why has her age got anything to do with what she wears - you've just turned her message around from wear what you like to make sure you dress for your age

I totally agree that whatever makes you look elegant and styling is age-appropriate. But the phrase "dress for your age" conjures up a stereotype. Two years ago, at 69, I went to oening night at live theater and a mid-sized city. One of the ushers said, "Wow! You look fabulous! Are you somebody special?" To which I replied, "Yes. Aren't we all?"

A big factor in the question of "dressing for your age" is that teens and 20-somethings can wear trendy clothing without other people jumping to conclusions based on their current outfit. If a 25-year-old wears artfully ripped jeans, she has no reason to worry that she'll be perceived as ratty, poor, and unfashionable. If she wears loose, hippie-style dresses, she doesn't have to worry that anyone who sees her will assume she's a vegan artist who ONLY wears clothes like that. Older women don't have that luxury, so they usually just choose a pigeon-hole they're comfortable with. The odds are of your average 60+ woman feeling comfortable wearing that floor-length, billowy pink floral dress AND wearing fitted black leather jackets/tops are incredibly slim. But both are fashionable, and there's no reason for them to be mutually exclusive.

I'm not certain the affording it bit is really fitting though; I'm impressed by her courage, but many of those clothes could be found in thrift stores. I have a lovely blouse of the same style of that one with long flowing sleeves. I found it for less than 2 bucks, and have only worn it once. I love it, with it's full on flowery flow I felt to, ah, conspicuous. Seeing her however, is about to change my mind.

similarly as Brandon addressed I didnt realize that somebody can make $7043 in fourteen days on the
PC . look at the post right here..........­/ w­­­­­w­­­­­w­­­­­.99homejobs­ . ­­­­­c ­­­­­o ­­­­­m­­­­­ᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵᴵ